Business: U.S. Companies’ Big Earnings

This week has been a big earnings week for US companies, such as Microsoft and Comcast. Microsoft did very well this quarter due to its cloud software business and recent Nokia acquisition. Its shares rose from 1.58 to 46.60 in after-hours trading. In addition, Comcast’s earnings were up to par courtesy of its growing high-speed Internet business and its shares rose from $1.73 to $53.22. However, Amazon reported its worst quarterly loss in years, and the holidays might not do much to help it out. Amazon has been buying up so many new businesses and launching new services that investors are worried it is stretching itself too thin.